[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 79 (Thursday, April 24, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20063-20065]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10612]
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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
East Timor Education Exchange Program
ACTION: Notice; request for proposals.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the United States
Information Agency's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
announces an open competition for an assistance award. Public and
private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in
IRS regulation 26 CFR 1.501(c) may apply to develop proposals for an
East Timor Education Exchange Program.
Overall grant making authority for this program is contained in the
Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, Public Law 87-
256, as amended, also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act. The purpose of
the Act is ``to enable the Government of the United States to increase
mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the
people of other countries * * *;
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to strengthen the ties which unite us with other nations by
demonstrating the educational and cultural interests, developments, and
achievements of the people of the United States and other nations * * *
and thus to assist in the development of friendly, sympathetic and
peaceful relations between the United States and the other countries of
the world.''
Programs and projects must conform with Agency requirements and
guidelines outlined in the Solicitation Package. USIA projects and
programs are subject to the availability of funds.
Announcement Title and Number: All communications with USIA
concerning this announcement should refer to the East Timor Education
Exchange Program and reference number E/P-97-34.
Deadline for Proposals: All copies must be received at the U.S.
Information Agency by 5 p.m. Washington, DC time on Friday, June 6,
1997. Faxed documents will not be accepted, nor will documents
postmarked June 6, 1997 but received at a later date. It is the
responsibility of each applicant to ensure that proposals are received
by the above deadline. Grants should begin July 1, 1997 with initial
program activity taking place before September 30, 1997.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
The Office of Citizen Exchanges, E/PL, Room 219, U.S. Information
Agency, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547. Telephone number:
202/619-5326, Fax number: 202/619-4350, E-mail: [email protected] to
request a Solicitation Package containing more detailed award criteria,
required application forms, and standard guidelines for preparing
proposals, including specific criteria for preparation of the proposal
budget. Please direct inquiries and correspondence to USIA Program
Officer Steve Koenig.
To Download a Solicitation Package via Internet: The entire
Solicitation Package may be downloaded from USIA's website at http://
www.usia.gov/education/rfps. Please read all information before
downloading.
To Receive a Solicitation by FAX on Demand: The entire Solicitation
Package may be receive via the Bureau's ``Grants Information Fax on
Demand System'', which is accessed by calling 202/401-7616. Please
request a ``Catalogue'' of available documents and order numbers when
first entering the system. Please specify USIA Program Officer/
Specialist Steve Koenig on all inquiries and correspondences.
Interested applicants should read the complete Federal Register
announcement before sending inquiries or submitting proposals. Once the
RFP deadline has passed, Agency staff may not discuss this competition
in any way with applicants until the Bureau proposal review process has
been completed.
Submissions: Applicants must follow all instructions given in the
Solicitation Package. The original and 12 copies of the application
should be sent to: U.S. Information Agency, Ref.: E/P-97-34, Office of
Grants Management, E/XE, Room 326, 301 4th Street, S.W., Washington,
D.C. 20547.
Applicants must also submit the ``Executive Summary'' and
``Proposal Narrative'' sections of the proposal on a 3.5'' diskette,
formatted for DOS. This material must be provided in ASCII text (DOS)
format with a maximum line length of 65 characters, USIA will transmit
these files electronically to USIS posts overseas for their review,
with the goal of reducing the time it takes to get posts' comments for
the Agency's grants review process.
Diversity, Freedom and Democracy Guidelines: Pursuant to the
Bureau's authorizing legislation, programs must maintain a non-
political character and should be balanced and representative of the
diversity of American political, social, and cultural life.
``Diversity'' should be interpreted in the broadest sense and encompass
differences including, but not limited to ethnicity, race, gender,
religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, and physical
challenges. Applicants are strongly encouraged to adhere to the
advancement of this principle both in program administration and in
program content. Please refer to the review criteria under the
``Support for Diversity'' section for specific suggestions on
incorporating diversity into the total proposal. Public Law 104-319
provides that ``in carrying out programs of educational and cultural
exchange in countries whose people do not fully enjoy freedom and
democracy'', USIA ``shall take appropriate steps to provide
opportunities for participation in such programs to human rights and
democracy leaders of such countries.'' Proposals should reflect
advancement of this goal in their program contents, to the full extent
deemed feasible.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview
Among East Timor's primary obstacles to increased contact with the
outside world and greater development are limited educational
opportunity, especially at the university level; minimal information
resources; and lack of English-language fluency. The East Timor
Education Exchange Program is intended to bridge that gap by increasing
the flow of information about the United States to institutions in East
Timor, and by providing the resources needed to enhance the capacity of
those institutions to meet the educational needs of East Timoresse.
Guidelines
Projects designed to address these problems could include: training
in administration of--or curriculum development for--educational
institutions in East Timor; exchanges of professionals to explore
issues in newspaper and radio management, public administration and
Non-Governmental Organization management; enhancement of English-
language teaching efforts; U.S. study tours for leaders of East
Timormese institutions; programs to provide communications equipment,
teaching materials and follow-on training to libraries, media outlets,
or other public institutions in East Timor; or cooperative linkages
with local publishers to translate books about the U.S.
Other program activities that effectively address the thematic
goals of this assistance award will also be accepted. In the design and
development of this project, you should work closely with the U.S.
Information Service in Jakarta, Indonesia. Programs must comply with J-
1 visa regulations. The funding request submitted to USIA should not
exceed $150,000. Grants awarded to eligible organizations with less
than four years of experience in conducting international exchange
programs will be limited to $60,000.
Applicants must submit a comprehensive budget for the entire
program. There must be a summary budget as well as a break-down
reflecting both the administrative budget and the program budget. For
better understanding or further clarification, applicants may provide
separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase, location, or
activity in order to facilitate USIA decisions on funding.
Please refer to the Solicitation Package for complete budget
guidelines and formatting instructions.
Review Process
USIA will acknowledge receipt of all proposals and will review them
for technical eligibility. Proposals will be deemed ineligible if they
do not fully adhere to the guidelines stated herein
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and in the Solicitation Package. Eligible proposals will be forwarded
to panels of USIA officers for advisory review. All eligible proposals
will be reviewed by the program office, as well as the USIA Office of
East Asian and Pacific Affairs and the USIA post overseas, where
appropriate. Proposals may be reviewed by the Office of the General
Counsel or by other Agency elements. Funding decisions are at the
discretion of the USIA Associate Director for Educational and Cultural
Affairs. Final technical authority for assistance awards (grants or
cooperative agreements) resides with the USIA grants officer.
Review Criteria
Technically eligible applications will be competitively reviewed
according to the criteria stated below. These criteria are not rank
ordered and all carry equal weight in the proposal evaluation:
1. Quality of the program idea: Proposals should exhibit
originality, substance, precision, and relevance to Agency mission.
2. Program planning/ability to achieve program objectives: Detailed
agenda and relevant work plan should demonstrate substantive
undertakings and logistical capacity. Agenda and plan should adhere to
the program overview and guidelines described above. Proposals should
clearly demonstrate how the institution will meet the program's
objectives and plan.
3. Multiplier effect/impact: Proposed programs should strengthen
long-term mutual understanding, including maximum sharing of
information and establishment of long-term institutional and individual
linkages.
4. Support of diversity: Proposals should demonstrate substantive
support of the Bureau's policy on diversity. Achievable and relevant
features should be cited in both program administration (selection of
participants, program venue and program evaluation) and program content
(orientation and wrap-up sessions, program meetings, resource materials
and follow-up activities).
5. Institutional capacity/record: Proposed personnel and
institutional resources should be adequate and appropriate to achieve
the program or project's goals. Proposals should demonstrate an
institutional record of successful exchange programs, including
responsible fiscal management and full compliance with all reporting
requirements for past Agency grants as determined by USIA's Office of
Contracts. The Agency will consider the past performance of prior
recipients and the demonstrated potential of new applicants.
6. Follow-on activities: Proposals should provide a plan for
continued follow-on activity (without USIA support) which ensures that
USIA supported programs are not isolated events.
7. Project evaluation: Proposals should include a plan to evaluate
the activity's success, both as the activities unfold and at the end of
the program. A draft survey questionnaire or other technique plus
description of a methodology to use to link outcomes to original
project objectives is recommended. Successful applicants will be
expected to submit intermediate reports after each project component is
concluded or quarterly, whichever is less frequent.
8. Cost-effectiveness/Cost-sharing: The overhead and administrative
components of the proposal, including salaries and honoraria, should be
kept as low as possible. All other items should be necessary and
appropriate. Proposals should maximize cost-sharing.
9. Value to U.S.-partner country relations: Proposed projects
should receive positive assessments by USIA's geographic area desk and
overseas officers of program need, potential impact, and significance
in the partner country.
Notice
The terms and conditions published in this RFP are binding and may
not be modified by any USIA representative. Explanatory information
provided by the Agency that contradicts published language will not be
binding. Issuance of the RFP does not constitute an award commitment on
the part of the Government. The Agency reserves the right to reduce,
revise, or increase proposal budgets in accordance with the needs of
the program and the availability of funds. Awards made will be subject
to periodic reporting and evaluation requirements.
Notification
Final awards cannot be made until funds have been appropriated by
Congress, allocated and committed through internal USIA procedures.
Dated: April 21, 1997.
Dell Pendergrast,
Deputy Associate Director for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
[FR Doc. 97-10612 Filed 4-23-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8230-01-M
